Saab, Nadine

Abstract [en]

The purpose of this study is to examine how consultants define conceptions of diversity and discrimination. There has also been an aim to find connections to the term intersectionality within the consultants’ definitions. The link between consultants and academic research is interesting to examine in order to examine what they base their definitions of different conceptions on. In order to explore these definitions and discussions I have used the qualitative method of interviewing each consultant separately at different occasions. This was in an attempt to achieve a deeper understanding of how each individual reason when it comes to the conceptions of diversity, discrimination and intersectionality. In order to avoid controlling their stories I have pursued the interview as a form of conversation and I have only asked simple questions in order to start the conversation. I have not been able to find any earlier studies about this particular field, where the researcher has asked these kinds of questions about consultants working with diversity and discrimination; however I did find many studies about the concept of diversity, which was not relevant enough. The common themes found in the data material was that depending on the kind of educations the consultants had, the more developed their definitions were of diversity and discrimination, and also more versatile were their discussions and theorizing. The connection to academic research was also linked with their own academic backgrounds. Many of the consultants looked at differences between people rather than similarities, which can lead to discriminating actions on different levels of society. I also noticed the tendency to see diversity as a question of ethnic and cultural belonging with many of the consultants. Some of the consultants also saw the connections of diversity and discrimination as an issue of ethnic origin and cultural belonging, leaving out all other possible reasons for people being discriminated against, while others had a wider definition of what discrimination and diversity could be seen as.